Japanese Physical medicine treats the muscles, ligaments, tendons, meridians, joints and harmonises the body to achieve a holistic and naturally integrated treatment. Using what are termed in Japanese; anma, seitai, sekkotsu, shindenjutsu, ampuka, kampo, gohan, koshijutsu,
Integrated Japanese Physical Medicine - Physical Therapy
The "secret" of Japanese Physical Medicine is its integration of many physical therapies to provide a holistic and natural approach;
For the treatment of; Muscle injuries and ailments, sports and martial arts injuries, back and spine conditions, post operative and accident recovery therapy.
Whilst also providing a preventative and enhancing approach of physical health, by combining exercises and treatments to improve muscle balance, joint functions, postures movements and even skill development through neurological re-patterning.
In modern Japan the integrated therapies of Japanese Physical Therapy are known as;
| 1: Anma (Massage with acupressure and visceral balancing) "Which is oftened termed Japanese physiotherapy with massage - which like 'Western' physiotherapy 'focuses' on the muscles and the circulation systems. |  |
2: Seitai (Litterally to correct the physical - musculoskeletal systems) combines Anma with joint corrections, which are not 'forecefull' but more positional. Because of these joint corrections, Seitai is often termed in Japan as being Japanese 'gentle' Osteopathy or Chiropractic
3: Sekkotsu (Bone setting - reduction of dislocations and bone re-alignment) In Japan sekkotsu Doctors are often termed Osteopath/Chiropractic Doctors who are also 'non surgical' Ortheapedic specicialists - who are always martial arts practitioners of "Hichibuku Goshinjutsu - Amatsu Bumon". They also use herbs, poultices, diet and temperature to balance the persons health and assist in recovery
With the traditional methods known as;
4: Kenkujutsu (Cranial sacral and fascia balancing) using highly developed palpation skills to feel the 'minor' balances, torsions and restrictions within our joints and the membrane (fascia which wrapas around our internal organs, bones, muscles etc)
5: Koshijutsu (Literally correction of the spine) using soft tissue techniques (Massage and positional re-alignment) in conjunction with ligament balancing, joint mobilization, joint articulation, positional release, reflex re-patterning and head to toe balancing. To improve the position and functions of the spine.
6: Shindenjutsu (Literally heart feeling) relates to the attunement of the practitioner / doctor of Japanese medicine and the patient. This is a very high level of 'non verbal' communication - where the practitioner attunes to the energy systems and the physical systems.
7: Kuji (Can mean the intention of the heart) and is the highest level of Amatsu Ryoho from the Hichibuku goshinjutsu medical tradition - where the Doctor 'drives' energy into specific points simmilar to using Qigong with directed energy. please note that "Kuji" is only taught to master teachers with many years of experince...
8: Kiko and Taihenjutsu are essentially self treatment methods of exercises and positions in conjunction with breathing and the focussing of the mind to improve posture, mobility, energy balance and as a way of boosting our internal healing systems....
Bringing together; massage, physiotherapy, osteopathy, chiropractic, acupressure, acupuncture, nutrition, ergonomics, sports therapy Japanese Qigong, shiatsu, self treatment and martial arts medicine.
To help you understand how these integrated physical therapies work and can help you we have included further details on these therapies and the 'parts' which are contained within them.
Japanese Physical medicine includes the use of Integrated Physical therapies which include;
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Massage, Joint articulation, Sports Therapies, Martial Arts Medicine, Spine correction, Ligament balancing, Visceral massage, acupressure, nutrition etc... Which are integrated to balance the "Big five factors of Health" (Godai)
It is the "Integration" of these approaches which makes Japanese integrated Physical Medicine a very effective and efficient way of balancing, protecting and improving our recovery from Physical ailments and injuries.
The following "Therapies" are integrated within Integrated Japanese Physical medicine;
ANMA - Japanese massage and Acupressure
(Often termed Japanese Physiotherapy with acupressure)
Japanese Anma Massage is used to maintain balanced physical and psychological functioning of the body, reduce various ailments and help with realigning of the structure .
Tension in the body is caused by a build up of lactic acid and is a result of fatigue, trauma, stress, chemical imbalances and poor circulation. During Anma massage, muscles relax which allows blood and energy to flow freely, toxins are then released and eliminated.
Anma massage can be utilised for a wide range of ailments such as relief and prevention of sports injuries, headaches, numbness, high or low blood pressure, constipation, stomach cramps, menstrual irregularity, vitality and insomnia. But its highest benifit is in the balancing and functions of our muscles - whilst helping our general health
Anma therapy is based on the principles of Oriental Medicine. This ancient healing art uses special techniques to stimulate key points (Tsubo) on the surface of the skin to promote the body's natural self healing abilities. When these points are stimulated they release muscular tension which facilitates the circulation of blood and energy (Kiketsu). This Is The Intention Of Anma Massage.
Anma includes;
Gentle massage Adhesions Lymphatic massage
Keisatsu Ho
Light stroking techniques
Junen Ho
Kneading techniques
Shinsen Ho
Vibration techniques
Oscilation
Ampuka Ho
Visceral massage
Digestive
Koda Ho
Percussion techniques
Tapping
Kyokute Ho
Special percussion techniques
Vibration
Junan Taiso
Movement therapy & exercises
Ki-ko, Junan
Kyosatsu Ho
Rotation & stroking with heavy pressure
Mobility
Haaku Ho
Gripping & squeezing techniques
Practitioners of Japanese Physical medicine; Begin thier 'training' by learning Anma (Massage with Acupressure) alongside Japanese 'Physical' self treatment (Ki-ko and Junan Taiso) which continues and develops to a very high level of skill and ability in soft tissue treatments and acupressure/shiatsu
This also means that the practitioners learn how to treat themselves and others!
Seitai - is often termed "Japenese Osteopathy" and includes Anma alongside an approach of treating and 'teaching' the muscles of the body to work in balance with each other. On one level "Seitai" could be termed a physical therapy but it also addresses meridian balance which aids in prevention and recovery. On another level it is a Physical therapy for the treatment of the muscular system of the body.
Seitai literrally means "To correct the physical body"
Seitai pays attention to the importance of both skeletal and soft tissue structures; its principle is to restore the proper skeletal frame by manipulating soft tissue.
Importantly, Seitai is different from Osteopathy/Chiropractic work because it never involves direct hands-on adjustments of the skeleton. Further to this, Seitai uses methods different from massage, taking into account the entire muscle structure and origin/insertion of the muscle ultimately creating a unique and wonderful therapeutic massage; which is uniquely applied from head to toe...
e and is believed to originated over 1,000 years ago in Japan by the masters of the martial arts as a way of treating combat related injuries.
Sekkotsu includes ways of correcting broken bones, dislocations, vertebral re-alignment and physical injury treatments. Sekotsu also termed "Sekkotsu sho" is renowned for its rapid treatment of recent injuries - for example twisted ankles, back sprains, etc...
Sekkotsu is often termed Japanese Osteopathy/Chiropractic and non surgical Orthapedic medicine.
Traditionally Japanese Sekkotsu included "Non surgical ways" of re-aligning (Reduction) of broken bones and dislocations along with ways of 'recovering' joint and spinal movements. Hence the term Oriental/Japanese bonesetter.
Japanese Sekkotsu is actually a very gentle approach of bone and joint correction, where "Instead" of using very forcefull "Manipulations" they first balance the meridians (Energy cycles) of the body, whilst balancing the meridian energy pathways and muscles of the body (Using Anma) so that 'forceful' manipulation is 'rarely used' and often only used in emergency situations. Which is why "Sekkotsu" is also known in Japan as "A Gentle and Painless correction of the spine and joints"
Japanese Sekkotsu students - develop a very high level of "Palpation" skill where they learn to feel the bones and joints - which is augmented by thier "Anma" skills of feeling (Palpation) of the soft tissues of the body - i.e. the muscles.
This allows them to feel (Palpate) both the soft tissues (Muscles, Ligaments and tendons) and the bone structures of the spine and joints of our body. This "Feeling skill" (Palpation) enables the Sekkotsu practitioner to assess the individual functions of our spine and joints and then both restore normal functions and improve them!
Japanese Sekkotsu Practitioners learn and use
Soft Tissue treatments - Anma (Japanese massage with acupressure)
Spine assessment and treatment - "Koshijutsu" The backbone of life
Emergency joint and spine treatments - "Kappo" Resucitation and life restoration
Articulation, Mobilization and Manipulation - "Seitai" Literally physical correction
Positional 'release' and function - "Kiko and Junan Taiso" Natural movement/exercise
Nutrition - related to our joints, tendons, ligaments and health functions - "Gohan"
What could be 'termed' sports and martial arts medicine - "Ryo-Ho"
Ampuka is a way of feeling the tensions, pulls, strains and movements of the internal organs and then assists the body in harmonizing the visceral functions - whilst balancing the connected energy flows. Palpation of the internal organs are also used to select "Tsubo" points of treatment to restore and harmonize our energy (Ki/Qi) systems. Ampuka is similar to Western visceral therapy - but includes acupressure and lymphatic drainage methods.
Ampuka has been used to help people excrete kidney stones, recover from irritable bowel syndrome and to enhance our recovery from physical and general health conditions. Visceral treatments are becoming very popular with advanced practitioners of many different therapies and medical approaches because of the "Link" between our organ functions, prevention and recovery from both health conditions and physical ailments.
Shindenjutsu often termed "Fluid driving or the Japanese equivalent of 'balanced Ligament technique' developed by Dr Sutherland and the ways of Dr Becker" because it is a very gentle 'attunement' process used in medicine to "Unwind" strains or tensions and in the martial arts to 'lock' the person(s) up. Shindenjutsu is also considered to be the "Secret" behind both martial arts and physical medicine.
Shindenjutsu requires a very high level of "Palpation" skill and ability - where the practitioner can feel deep within the body.
Japanese Integrated Physical Medicine
The integration of the above treatment methods facilitates integrated treatment to our
1: Muscles
2: Tendons
3: Ligaments
4: Spine
5: Joints
whilst also harmonizing our health systems - most notably;
a) The circulation of our blood and body fluids
b) The harmonious balance of our meridian energy system
c) Our processes of nutrition - selection, absorption and excretion
d) The calming of our mind - creating relaxation
e) Improving our adaptability
The Balance of the big five factors of health - Godai
Examples of how these are integrated can be found on our pages that cover health conditions